Written Answers Tuesday 4 May 2010

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued under section 4 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 since 1 April 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to adults and under 16’s between 1 October 2004 and 31 March 2008, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk .

  Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued since 31 March 2008 is not held centrally

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds centrally on the use of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 and how this has changed since it came into force.

Fergus Ewing: Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland was published jointly with COSLA in March 2009 with the support of all relevant agencies. Volume 2 contains the detailed research, analysis and public consultation that informed this review.

  As part of this, the implementation plan for the framework, published on 23 October 2009, proposed that a new voluntary performance framework will be created which will support partners and practitioners in developing effective strategies locally. Included in this is a proposed objective to identify and support the collection at a local level of performance management information which will enable local authorities and partners to focus on continually improving performance.

  Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued to adults and under 16s between 1 October 2004 and 31 March 2008, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk.

  Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued since 31 March 2008 is not held centrally

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what aspects of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 it considers have been most effective in tackling antisocial behaviour.

Fergus Ewing: The Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 contains a range of measures that have helped communities. These measures, including vehicle seizure, dispersal and fixed penalty notice powers have been used effectively by local agencies to tackle antisocial behaviour.

  Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland, published jointly with COSLA in March 2009 and with the support of all relevant agencies, puts prevention at the heart of our approach to antisocial behaviour and enforcement is just one aspect of this

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has used its powers under section 2(3)(a) or (b) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 since May 2007 and, if so, when and for what reason.

Fergus Ewing: Since the implementation of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004 these powers have not been used

Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports under section 2(1) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 have been produced since it came into force and when they were published.

Fergus Ewing: The responsibility for the publication of these reports lies with local authorities. Information on the publication of these reports is not held centrally.

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the European age-standardised incidence rate of survival for colorectal cancer is at (a) one year and (b) five years in each of the last three four-year periods in Tayside, broken down by gender.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the number of colorectal cancer patients in Tayside and the related percent surviving for the period 1996-2007. This data is not available as age standardised.

  Table: Number of Colorectal Cancer Patients and Percent Surviving One and Five years, Tayside, 1996-2007

  

 
 
1996-99
2000-03
2004-07


Males
Registrations
602
592
548


 
1 year
68%
71%
75%


 
5 years
36%
44%
n/a


Females
Registrations
539
517
515


 
1 year
63%
65%
68%


 
5 years
34%
39%
n/a



  Source: ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2010-01060.

  Note: Observed survival was calculated as Kaplan-Meier survival at one and five years from diagnosis for patients aged 15-99, based on the patient’s first cancer registration

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the European age-standardised incidence rate of survival for (a) breast and (b) prostate cancer is at (i) one year and (ii) five years in each of the last three four-year periods in Tayside.

Nicola Sturgeon: The data illustrated in the following tables show the number of breast and prostate cancer patients (respectively) in Tayside and percent surviving for one and five years over the period 1996-2007. The data collected is not routinely age standardised.

  Table 1. Number of Breast Cancer Patients and Percent Surviving One and Five Years, Tayside, 1996-2007

  

 
1996-99
2000-03
2004-07


Registrations
1,041
1,036
1,169


1 year
90%
92%
93%


5 years
67%
70%
n/a



  Source: ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2010-01060.

  Table 2. Number of Prostate Cancer Patients and Percent Surviving One and Five Years, Tayside, 1996-2007

  

 
1996-99
2000-03
2004-07


Registrations
617
652
701


1 year
82%
87%
88%


5 years
45%
54%
n/a



  Source: ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2010-01060

Cancer

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out on the effectiveness of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

Carers

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31597 by Adam Ingram on 4 March 2010, when in 2010 the guidance to local authorities on implementation of the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 will be published.

Adam Ingram: The guidance to support the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations is being drafted by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering and the Fostering Network and will be published in May 2010. We will be seeking comments on the published document during the first three months of its use by agencies and the guidance will be updated following this period

Carers

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31597 by Adam Ingram on 4 March 2010, whether the guidance to local authorities will reiterate the commitment to achieve parity between payments to kinship carers and those to foster carers by 2011.

Adam Ingram: The guidance to support the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations will reiterate the concordat expectation that kinship carers should receive an equivalent allowance to that received by foster carers by 2011.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will work with local authorities and schools.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will produce materials or guidance for local authorities, schools, teachers or parents.

Michael Russell: The Excellence Groups will involve practitioners from local authorities and schools to demonstrate excellence in education across a range of subjects. The work of the groups will then be shared with schools across Scotland

Education

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Curriculum for Excellence excellence group will be established.

Michael Russell: We are establishing a range of Excellence Groups across subjects, involving educational practitioners and subject experts, and will publish a schedule for meetings this month

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be allocated to provide tailored support for secondary schools requiring additional help in implementing the Curriculum for Excellence before August 2010.

Michael Russell: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) are working with the Directors of Education to explore the types of materials which would be helpful to those secondary schools who have expressed a need for additional support.

  HMIe will report by the end of this month, and we will consider any associated funding requirements

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be allocated to providing additional practical materials for teachers to support implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and when teachers will be provided with these materials.

Michael Russell: Learning and Teaching Scotland’s (LTS) core remit covers, within existing resources, the production of relevant materials to support delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. This is an ongoing process, which will include support for the 10-point action plan. For details of this activity I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33102 on 4 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  In addition to the work of LTS, £3 million will be made available to local authorities in 2010-11 to help support local activity associated with introducing and operating a quality assurance and moderation scheme for the new assessment approaches, and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland Partnership have commissioned work to produce summary versions of the key documents Building the Curriculum 3, 4 and 5.

  We will continue to monitor the need for support with implementation, and the associated funding requirements

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what form the additional materials for pupils and parents to explain the Curriculum for Excellence will take and when these materials will be provided.

Michael Russell: We are currently developing further information material for parents and pupils, which will be issued during the summer term.

  We are also continuing to encourage schools to engage directly with parents using the materials available in the Curriculum for Excellence Parental Toolkit, an online resource which enables teachers to talk to parents and carers with confidence about the new curriculum

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional materials and information it will provide to employers to explain the Curriculum for Excellence and the new national qualifications and when these materials will be provided.

Michael Russell: We are in the process of carrying out research in order to establish employers current awareness of the Curriculum for Excellence programme, including on the new qualifications, and the additional details they require in order to tailor our future communications.

  Engagement has already taken place with major employer forums, including the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, and CBI Scotland, and we plan to undertake research directly with employers during May

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Learning and Teaching Scotland will play in actioning the 10-point plan for the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: Learning and Teaching Scotland’s (LTS) core remit covers the production of relevant materials to support delivery of Curriculum for Excellence. This is an ongoing process, which will include support for the 10-point action plan.

  On 20 April 2010 LTS published almost 100 examples of assessment in the priority areas of literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing on the Curriculum for Excellence website. They are continuing to work with the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and other partners, to develop the new National Assessment Resource which will be launched in mid-September.

  LTS is engaging with practitioners to assess the ongoing need for supportive materials for Curriculum for Excellence, and will be producing exemplification in priority areas. The timetable for delivery of this exemplification will be available in the late summer.

  LTS will play a role in planning and delivering the series of head teacher events, as well as other activities, which will enable the sharing of experience and best practice

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to facilitate remote learning under the Curriculum for Excellence in order to provide choice of courses and learning.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government funds Glow, the world’s first national education platform that provides a powerful set of integrated tools, applications, learning resources and access to CPD opportunities.

  This secure and personalised collaborative learning environment is breaking down geographical barriers to learning, enabling greater flexibility and choice.

  Glow is accessible anytime and anywhere that there is an internet connection

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the Curriculum for Excellence 10-point plan action points will be continued after August 2010 and for how long.

Michael Russell: I will seek the advice of Curriculum for Excellence Management Board on the need for the continuation of any actions from the 10-point plan in order to assist with the ongoing delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many admissions there have been for acute coronary syndrome in NHS Tayside in each year since 2005.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is provided in the following table. The rise in the number of admissions for acute coronary syndrome since 2008 is thought to be accounted for by the introduction of more sensitive diagnostic tests, using biomarkers such as troponin.

  Table: Number of Admissions for Acute Coronary Syndrome1 in NHS Tayside for the Years Ending 31 March

  

2005
2006
2007
2008
2009


1,495
1,273
1,221
1,516
1,606



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  Note: 1. Acute coronary syndrome includes unstable angina and myocardial infarction. It has been defined using the following International Classification of Disease Codes (version 10) I20.0, I21-I22 and I24.8.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the joint liaison group of the four UK health departments in exploring areas of possible collaboration and progress in the provision of services for people with rare diseases, including in the field of specialist commissioning.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are being considered by the joint liaison group of the four UK health departments in exploring areas of possible collaboration and progress for the provision of services for people with rare diseases.

Nicola Sturgeon: Officials from the four UK Health Departments are continuing to explore areas of possible collaboration and progress in the provision of services for people with rare diseases in line with the EU Council Recommendation’s request for a report on implementation of its actions by 2013. The areas under exploration are those contained in the EU Recommendation, and are as follows:

  Plans and strategies in the field of rare diseases;

  Adequate definition, codification and inventorying of rare diseases;

  Research on rare diseases;

  Centres of expertise and European Reference Networks for rare diseases;

  Gathering the expertise on rare diseases at a European level;

  Empowerment of patient organisations, and

  Sustainability.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30126 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, what further progress there has been in establishing a housing investment bank.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is continuing to consider the potential role and scope for a housing investment bank and explore options with stakeholders, such as the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Chartered Institute of Housing. As part of this the Government has just consulted on possible amendment of the Land Tenure Reform (Scotland) Act 1974 (the 20 year rules) ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/04140613/0 ).

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32440 on 24 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  The housing investment bank is one of the ideas to be covered in the wide-ranging debate on how we meet the challenges facing housing over the next five years and beyond.

International Relations

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it is allocating to its Pakistan plan.

Fiona Hyslop: The Pakistan Plan being prepared forms part of the wider Programme of Engagement with South Asia. It is being developed within existing resources.

International Relations

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its Pakistan plan.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is working with the Pakistani Consul General to bring together key stakeholders in the Pakistani community in Scotland to identify the existing links and engagement between Scotland and Pakistan as well as opportunities for mutual benefit. This will contribute to the development of the Pakistan Plan which we are planning to publish by the summer recess as part of our wider Programme of Engagement with South Asia.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminal appeals are outstanding.

Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many outstanding criminal appeals there are in relation to cases disposed of by the court of first instance in (a) 2009, (b) 2008, (c) 2007 and (d) prior to 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-31140, which received a holding reply on 10 February 2010.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-31140.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason has it not been able to provide a substantive answer to question S3W-31140.

Elish Angiolini: This was answered on 28 April 2010.

Police

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance to police authorities regarding the purchase of police vehicles.

Kenny MacAskill: No

Police

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors police authority spending in relation to the purchase of police vehicles.

Kenny MacAskill: No. Police authorities are accountable for their own spending

Police

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it encourages police authorities to reduce their carbon footprints by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles.

Kenny MacAskill: From 1 January 2011, public bodies, including police authorities and forces, will be subject to climate change duties imposed by the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. A public consultation on draft Scottish Government guidance in relation to these climate change duties is planned to take place in summer 2010.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has published a Climate Change Action Plan 2010-2020, which sets out six principal areas for action, including transport, and notes the contribution that low emission vehicles can make.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the finding in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth , published in April 2010, that on liberation 28% of prisoners tested positive for illegal substances.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS recognises the concerns raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, with 28% of liberations testing positive for illegal substances, although this is a significant reduction from the 82% who tested positive on admission.

  HMP Perth is currently undertaking a review of its work to manage prisoners with problematic drug use. This will include a review of measures to reduce availability and supply of illicit substances, and the range of treatment and rehabilitation services available, since individual prisoners will require different routes to recovery

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on recommendation 11.6 in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth , published in April 2010, that "The reasons for so many prisoners testing positive for illegal substances on liberation should be explored."; whether it will implement this recommendation, and, if so, when and in what form.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Prison Perth is conducting a review to explore the reasons for the number of prisoners testing positive for illegal substances on liberation, and will develop an appropriate action plan

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the finding in HM Inspectorate of Prisons: Report on HMP Perth, published in April 2010, that on liberation 28% of prisoners tested positive for illegal substances, whether it considers that illegal drugs use in prison is a problem across the prison estate and, if so, what action it will take.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Drug problems are highly prevalent in prisoners, with two out of three testing positive for illicit drugs on admission (71%, SPS Addiction Prevalence Testing 2008-09) and just under half reporting being under the influence (45%, 12th SPS Prisoner Survey 2009) at the time of their offence.

  SPS is committed to reducing illicit drug use and trafficking across Scotland’s prisons and will take all reasonable measures to reduce the supply of and demand for illicit substances and the harm caused by substance misuse.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many micro-hydro renewable energy installations are operating, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Mather: Planning applications for small scale hydro schemes are handled at a local authority level and these figures are not held centrally

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking to support micro-hydro renewable energy schemes.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has ensured that Scotland can benefit from the UK-wide feed in tariff for renewable energy schemes, including micro-hydro. The Feed in Tariff came into force on 1 April 2010.

  Support is also provided to agricultural, forestry and rural micro businesses wishing to install micro-hydro schemes under the Scotland Rural Development Programme and advice and funding is available to Communities under the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme.

  In addition, the Scottish Government supports interest-free energy efficiency loans through our Energy Saving Scotland Small Business Loans Scheme.

  The Scottish Government also facilitates the Forum for Renewable Energy Development Micro Hydro Sub-Group, which is an industry led group tasked with taking forward actions identified in the Renewables Action Plan for the micro-hydro sector. The group is currently working with SEPA on its draft guidance for run of river hydro schemes, which should help developers in identifying suitable sites for development

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it is allocating to support micro-hydro renewable energy schemes in 2010-11.

Jim Mather: The majority of funding for renewable energy schemes is not allocated by technology type, so it is not possible to give a set figure for micro-hydro.

  However, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme has a budget of £7.5 million for the provision of advice and grants during 2010-11 and is currently working with community groups on 32 potential micro hydro projects across Scotland with a total capacity of 5MW.

  Through the Central Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF), interest-free loans are available for Scottish local authorities plus NHS boards and Scottish Water to invest in a range of energy efficiency and renewables projects, including micro hydro projects. Individual bodies manage their own CEEF pot which acts as a revolving fund. This revolving fund scheme will continue into 2010-11.

  The £1.5 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme of economic, environmental and social measures continues to provide support to help deliver the government’s strategic objectives in rural Scotland, including providing financial support under its Renewable Energy and Diversification Outwith Agriculture measures.

  The Energy Efficiency Action Plan, due to be published in late spring, will set out how we will target energy efficiency funding going forward.

  It is also worth noting that the key support mechanism for renewable energy schemes of less than 5 Megawatts is the Feed in Tariff, which is managed by Ofgem at a UK level

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated to support micro-hydro renewable energy schemes in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has provided funding for micro-hydro schemes under the SCHRI - Energy Saving Scotland Home Renewable Scheme, under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and under the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).

  The breakdown for funding allocated under the SCHRI – Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme is as follows:

  

FY
Number
Grant Value


2004-05
1
£3,833.41


2005-06
0
£0.00


2006-07
4
£15,244.18


2007-08
5
£16,935.45


2008-09
0
£0.00


2009-10
1
£4,000.00


 
11
£40,013.04



  Figures for the Scotland Rural Development Programme are not broken down by technology or year, however to March 2010 over £2 million of funding has been approved under the Renewable Energy Agriculture Option. Over £437,143 has been approved under the Renewable Energy Forestry Option and £609,705 has been approved under the Renewables Non Land-Based option. Funding is also available for Renewables Projects under the Diversification Outwith Agriculture Option, where businesses are diversifying into renewable energy production, but this option goes a lot wider than just renewable energy projects.

  CARES has allocated grants to a number of hydro schemes, mostly larger than micro-hydro. In the last year, CARES awarded a grant of £2,757 to a micro-hydro scheme in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

  Central Energy Efficiency Funding was provided from 2004-06, with £15 million being split between local authorities and £4 million provided to the NHS and £1 million to Scottish Water. A breakdown of the figures spent on micro-hydro is not held centrally.

Social Exclusion

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Alex Neil: Scottish Government officials have been working with stakeholders since early 2009 on the preparations for, and launch of, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. In particular, a wide range of stakeholder groups were engaged in the preparation for and delivery of the launch event for the European Year on 22 March 2010, opened by Fergus Ewing MSP.

  The Department for Work and Pensions are working in partnership with Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations to co-ordinate the UK National Programme for the European Year, being taken forward by a range of stakeholder groups. This includes awareness raising documentaries being produced by Poverty Alliance in Scotland.

  Scottish Government also sponsor and work closely with the Poverty Alliance on promotion of the year – including funding and support for a seminar in September 2009, to encourage early engagement with the European Year. Save the Children Scotland have also been supported by Scottish Government to raise awareness as part of the European Year, for a programme of local engagement centred around their travelling Museum of Poverty.

  For more information about the activities being organised, stakeholders can visit the following websites:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion

  http://stoppovertynow.direct.gov.uk/index.html

  http://www.dwp.gov.uk/european-year-2010

Voluntary Sector

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is undertaking to encourage school pupils to participate in volunteering projects.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting young people to achieve their potential through recognised awards for volunteering. Youth Achievement Awards and ASDAN certificates are both levelled against the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is also well recognised. The Scottish Government supports Youth Scotland in its work to develop and promote these awards in Scotland in line with the four capacities of National Outcome 4 and the Curriculum for Excellence.

  Through supporting organisations such as Youth Scotland, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Volunteer Development Scotland, the Scottish Government is committed to building capacity in the voluntary youth sector to enable all Scotland’s young people to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

  While we do not have exact numbers for all volunteering opportunities available to young people, we do know that 18,000 young people volunteered through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with over 4,000 full awards gained; over 3,000 received Millennium Volunteer Awards, and over 3,500 received Youth Achievement and Dynamic Youth Awards in 2008-09.

Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has published legal advice it issued to Disclosure Scotland in 2006 indicating that supervision orders in relation to which an offence had been committed should be disclosed on certificates.

Adam Ingram: It is not the practice of the government, as indicated in the Scottish Ministerial Code, to disclose whether it has sought legal advice in relation to a particular matter

Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether legal advice it issued to Disclosure Scotland in 2006 indicating that supervision orders in relation to which an offence had been committed should be disclosed on certificates has been challenged in court.

Adam Ingram: As noted in my previous answer, it is not the practice of the government to disclose whether it has sought legal advice in relation to a particular matter. Disclosure Scotland has not had a legal challenge relating to the inclusion of information about supervision orders on certificates

Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which police force originally requested the legal advice that indicated that supervision orders in relation to which an offence had been committed should be disclosed on certificates.

Adam Ingram: As noted in my previous answer, it is not the practice of the government to disclose whether it has sought legal advice in relation to a particular matter

Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in relation to how many individuals has a supervision order been disclosed on their disclosure certificate.

Adam Ingram: Between April 2002 and March 2010, Disclosure Scotland has issued 4.5 million disclosure certificates. To establish completely accurate figures about the number of individuals where a supervision order has been disclosed would involve disproportionate cost as that would require a manual search of the content of each certificate.

Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been subject to a supervision order in which the grounds of referral were that they had committed an offence.

Adam Ingram: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA). The information requested is not held centrally. I have therefore asked the Principal Reporter to provide this information to the member.